Cogito World Educationhttp://cogitoworldeducation.org
USA Study ProgramsWed, 05 Dec 2018 20:06:04 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.9Why Our English Language Summer Program in HARVARD sq. and Columbia University Is The Best In The World?http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/12/05/english-language-summer-program-harvard-sq-columbia-university-best-world/
http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/12/05/english-language-summer-program-harvard-sq-columbia-university-best-world/#respondWed, 05 Dec 2018 20:06:03 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3571Our 2019 English Language Summer Program is from June 29th to July 19th. It excels at educating students from around the globe. Instructors from top Universities like HARVARD and MIT are experts at preparing students to attend college in the US through their improved English speaking and writing skills. There are countless benefits to learning a […]

]]>Our 2019 English Language Summer Program is from June 29th to July 19th. It excels at educating students from around the globe. Instructors from top Universities like HARVARD and MIT are experts at preparing students to attend college in the US through their improved English speaking and writing skills.

There are countless benefits to learning a language in a city, surrounded by native speakers. New York and Boston offer great opportunities for using your English lessons in practical situations. Here are the Top Reasons Why Cogito English Language Summer Program is the best program in the US!

1. Practice Your English in Everyday Life

Living in a city means constant interaction with the surrounding area and it’s people. Whether you are asking for directions or ordering a slice of pizza, these situations are great opportunities to use your newfound English skills. Reading street signs, navigating the subway system, and visiting Boston companies will require students to problem solve in English.

2. Experience the College Life in HARVARD sq and Columbia University.

Practicing English with your classmates is a great way to learn, but native English speakers will always be your best teachers. While receiving excellent instruction in the classroom, you will interact with over 500,000 college students from Columbia University, NYU, HARVARD, Boston University and MIT. You will talk with native English speakers each day.

3. Become Immersed in Life in the US

During our ESL program you will feel like a local- going to restaurants, sitting outside on the green, and attending public events. Because our English Language Summer Program is located in New York and Boston, there is always something happening. Make friends or become penpals with a friend in New York or Boston who can help accelerate your English proficiency. Get comfortable with American slang and listen to the way people speak in real-life situations. Relax in the beautiful summer weather with your classmates.

4. International Cuisine

Cogito students are immersed in a wide variety of international cuisine, promoting engagement with diverse cultures in both restaurant and cafeteria-style setting. Students enjoy breakfast on campus with choices such as cereal, fruit, yogurt, and bagels. Dinner and lunch include a variety of standard and regional foods, including a vegetarian option and a salad bar. We provide food on campus and we also go to restaurants.

5. Special Events

The Cogito star-up events allow students to engage with local start-ups, enriching students’ sense of American Innovation and giving them a stake in that is up-and-coming in the community around them. During these events, students have the opportunity to put in practice the conversation skills they have learned in class!

6. Workshops

Students attend different events during the program. One of our workshops is on accent reduction through the application JUNO. This workshop is designed for those non-native speakers who have good English reading and writing ability, but who need to improve their speaking skills to avoid frustrating experiences where communication breaks down because of problems with their English pronunciation.

7. Life on Campus

In New York, students stay at HI New York. The Hostelling International New York offers dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms. Linens, towels and a housekeeping service are included. It is located one block from Broadway Street and 10-minute walk from Central Park. In Boston, students live on campus and stay in double room dormitories in Harvard Square. Rooms are furnished with a twin bed (linens and towels included), desk, chair, dresser and closet for each student.

8. Friends from all over the world

Cogito keeps a great nationality mix. We welcome students from all over the world. In previous years, we received students from Morocco, Poland, America, Russia, Italy, Georgia, Turkey, Japan, Spain, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Serbia, Israel, France and the United States.

]]>http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/12/05/english-language-summer-program-harvard-sq-columbia-university-best-world/feed/0What makes Cogito’s SAT Summer Program The Best In The US?http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/11/27/3557/
http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/11/27/3557/#respondTue, 27 Nov 2018 22:04:30 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3557Cogito SAT Summer Program is the best SAT Prep program in the US. Over the four-week program, students learn techniques to improve SAT scores by 20% on average. Check out the main reasons Cogito SAT prep program is the best program for international students: Cogito’s classes are held at the top American universities, including Harvard, […]

]]>Cogito SAT Summer Program is the best SAT Prep program in the US. Over the four-week program, students learn techniques to improveSAT scores by 20% on average. Check out the main reasons Cogito SAT prep program is the best program for international students:

Cogito’s classes are held at the top American universities, including Harvard, MIT, and Brown. In addition to the intellectual experience that students gain from these courses, their setting in prestigious US academic environments gives students insight into college life at top American schools.

Location. Our 4-week program is split between New York and Boston: the first week is held at Columbia University and the next three weeks are held in Harvard sq. After the first five days in New York, we take the bus to Boston and continue our classes and activities in Harvard sq.

Instructors are graduates from MIT and Harvard. Cogito students benefit from close experience with the American lecture style and are empowered to academically prepare themselves accordingly.

Visits to top companies, for example, Google. This gives students a broader perspective on life in the US beyond the college search process, and propels them to make decisions when thinking about their future.

The Cogito start-up events allow students to engage with local start-ups, enriching students’ sense of American innovation and giving them a stake in what is up-and-coming in the community around them.

Cogito offers its students free time throughout their summer program, teaching responsibility and independence while simultaneously preventing the burn-out so endemic among high-achieving international students. For two to three hours each day, students are enabled to assemble their own agenda, one that educates them on the most engaging aspects of their setting.

Cogito students engage in individual social impact projects during their summer experience. Designed to generate positive social good and leave an impact on the world around them, these projects begin with students being paired with a professor, businessperson, lab, top school, lawyer, and more. Through this partnership, students design their own independent project toward creating a meaningful social impact. Last year students in the entrepreneurship group designed reusable bags to send to Cuba aiming to decrease plastic pollution. They received financial aid and donations from US companies. Similarly, the music group was mentored by Berklee student. They attended the Berklee recording studios in where they were able to record their own song.

Cogito students are immersed in a wide variety of international cuisine, promoting engagement with diverse cultures in both restaurant and cafeteria-style settings. Students enjoy breakfast on campus with choices such as cereal, fruit, yogurt, and bagels. Dinner and lunch include a variety of standard and regional foods, including a vegetarian option and a salad bar. We provide food on campus and we also go to restaurants.

Cogito students benefit from study support from students from top American universities. Students from Harvard, MIT, and more assist Cogito students with any questions or difficulties they have in the test preparation process, further preparing them to have an edge over the realities of college admissions.

Life on Campus. In New York, students stay at HI New Work. The Hostelling International New York offers dormitory-style rooms with shared bathrooms. Linens, towels and a housekeeping service are included. It is one block from Broadway Street and 10-minute walk from Central Park. In Boston, students live on campus and stay in double room dormitories in Harvard Square. Rooms are furnished with a twin bed (linens and towels included), desk, char, dresser and closet for each student.

Friends from all over the world. Cogito keeps a great nationality mix. We welcome students from all over the world. In previous years, we received students from Morocco, Poland, America, Russia, Italy, Georgia, Turkey, Japan, Spain, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Pakistan, Serbia, Izrael, France and the United States.

Lectures -Students attend different lectures conducted by MIT professors. Last year, professor Marco Asaf talked about his research on removing traumatic memories from the brain. Students had the opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Marco and ask him any questions. Cogito students also attend lectures at the new england aquarium. Last year, Andy Mann discussed how to bring change and raise awareness for our most threatened marine ecosystems. Students had the opportunity to listen to his stories (and misadventures) from his excursions in all seven continents, including recent diving expeditions to Antarctica, the Arctic, Cuba, Macaronesia, and other locales, shining light on our most precious and threatened ecosystems.

]]>http://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/11/27/3557/feed/0Extracurricular Activities: A three-step guide to thinking and writing about everything you’ve done outside the classroomhttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/10/22/extracurricular-activities-three-step-guide-thinking-writing-everything-youve-done-outside-classroom/
Mon, 22 Oct 2018 14:40:16 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3550Almost without exception, no matter what colleges you are applying to, you will need to write at least a few essays (usually supplements) about your extracurricular activities. These essays can come in all different shapes and sizes, from 100-word briefs about your favorite activity to 500-word explanations of how those activities helped you grow as […]

]]>Almost without exception, no matter what colleges you are applying to, you will need to write at least a few essays (usually supplements) about your extracurricular activities. These essays can come in all different shapes and sizes, from 100-word briefs about your favorite activity to 500-word explanations of how those activities helped you grow as a person and everything in between. During my own application process to Harvard University, I had to write no less than 5 supplemental essays about my extracurriculars. However, despite the differences in formatting, most of these essays end up fairly similarly in terms of the content and themes that you will want to include. What follows here are my tips on writing extracurricular activity supplements.

It doesn’t matter how academically “impressive” your activity sounds – how you describe it is what counts

This may seem like a somewhat counterintuitive piece of advice, but you want to prioritize the activities that will best represent you as a person rather than those that you think make you sound the most studious. Colleges already know everything that they care to know about you academically through your transcript and test scores. The idea behind asking you about your extracurricular activities is to find out more about your personality and your non-academic interests. When trying to choose which extracurricular you want to write about, think about which ones you care the most about rather than those that sound the most impressive on paper.

No matter how the question is phrased, your essay should be more about you than the activity itself.

As with most other parts of your college application, you have fairly limited space to work with for these essays, so you need to make it count. As one of your teachers has probably mentioned to you at one point or another, the best writing focuses less on content and more on theme. Unless the activity that you plan to write about is incredibly uncommon and fairly complicated, try to spend as little time as possible explaining the nuts and bolts of it. In my personal opinion, two sentences should be the absolute maximum, and if it’s a fairly well-known activity (i.e. playing tennis), consider not giving any description whatsoever. The bulk of your essay should be explaining what the activity means to you, how it has helped you mature, or what it has taught you. The best way to express those things in a meaningful way without coming off as blunt or trite is…

Include Anecdotes!

This is advice not just for writing about your extracurricular activities, but also for the rest of your supplementary essays. The teacher in high school who taught me the most about writing once said to me that if you can effectively “show” the reader your points instead of just telling them directly, it will greatly improve your writing. The best way to accomplish that is through anecdotes. For instance, short stories or snippets from your life that lead your reader indirectly to the conclusion you want. This is especially key when writing about something like an extracurricular activity, where most of your lasting impressions come from the sum total of your experiences doing the activity.

The admissions officer reading your supplement has not had any of those experiences, so in order to properly convey what you’re trying to say, you need to give them a moment they can latch onto – something that will let them into your mind a bit. This could be the first time you beat your rival in a sport or the time that you spilled water on a painting that you had been working on for months, but it has to be something that has meaning to you. For this reason, don’t worry that much about the word limit when you draft your supplement – getting the story across in a way that you feel brings out the actual depth and meaning of your moment is the most important part. Once you have a version that you like, you can edit it down to however many words it needs to be. This also means that, as with everything else you write during your college process…

Leave time to edit your essay.

It is boring, but you will definitely be glad you’ve done it once you read the final draft.

]]>The Perfect Common Application: Advice from a Harvard Studenthttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/10/04/perfect-common-application/
Thu, 04 Oct 2018 15:58:30 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3546The most important and most visible part of the Common Application is the essay. There are several prompts to assist you in choosing what to write about. As of 2017, there is an open prompt so students would have full license to choose any subject. Beyond your grades and test scores, which will be mostly […]

]]>The most important and most visible part of the Common Application is the essay. There are several prompts to assist you in choosing what to write about. As of 2017, there is an open prompt so students would have full license to choose any subject. Beyond your grades and test scores, which will be mostly or entirely finished by the time you start writing, this is the most important part of your application. What follows is some of my own advice for writing the best Common App essay.

First, you have to choose your topic. Many people struggle with this step because they think about it in the wrong way. You have had many life experiences that could be applicable to the Common Application that your brain can’t adequately sort through them. This results in so-called “writer’s block”– where you can’t think of anything at all to write about. There are many ways to break through this, but for this essay, I think that the best strategy is to start from the other end.

• Instead of trying to apply your experiences to the prompts, simply think about what you would like to show colleges about yourself through your essay. Once you have a few things in mind, try to think about some of your own experiences that show these qualities. It doesn’t have to be a hugely significant event in your own life – many of the best essays are about small moments portrayed in a meaningful way.

• Secondly, don’t be afraid to take some creative license. If you can think of a few topics but can’t quite make them fit into the narrative that you want, feel free to embellish or adjust a few details into your essay (within reason, obviously). Admissions officers don’t care about the factuality of the narrative – they care about how it portrays you.
Once you’ve chosen your topic, there are three important points to remember about writing the essay.

1. Grab the reader’s attention.

Admissions officers don’t have time to read every application carefully – Harvard, for example, receives around 40,000 applicants annually (with similar numbers at most top schools) and can only take 1,600 students. This means that, in the first stage, the admissions officer reading your application will take less than 10 minutes to decide if it’s interesting or not. They will spend more time with your essay than any other part of your application, so it needs to grab their attention in some way. You need to give them a reason to take a closer look at you!

2. The essay is about you.

No matter what you end up choosing to write about, the essay needs to be primarily and fundamentally about you. Colleges are interested in the story you’re telling, but only as it pertains to you as an applicant. They will look at your grades, test scores, and various academic interests to ensure that they meet their standards, but the essay is your real opportunity to tell colleges something about you as a person. Keep that in mind while you’re writing your essay, because it may change how you want to tell the story and which details you choose to include.

3. Editing is the key to success.

While it is true that the essay is limited to 650 words, you shouldn’t worry about it too much at the beginning. Once you decide what to write about, you just need to write it down in a way that satisfies you, regardless of length. After you have that first draft, you simply need to give yourself enough time to edit it down to 650 words. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to start writing your essay for the Common Application as early as possible. Editing isn’t that hard, but it is very time-consuming, so be aware of that when you’re planning out your workload.

Good luck with your essay and with your Common Application!

Read our blog on 5 things that will increase your chances of getting accepted to Harvard!

]]>5 Requisites To Applying To US High Schools As An International Studenthttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/09/24/5-requisites-applying-us-high-schools-international-student/
Mon, 24 Sep 2018 16:22:50 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3542When applying to US High Schools, international students should submit specific documentation to the school they wish to apply. Learn about the required documents for an incoming international freshman to be considered for admission to a US high school. 1) Transcripts A transcript is an official copy of a student’s academic record detailing the courses […]

]]>When applying to US High Schools, international students should submit specific documentation to the school they wish to apply. Learn about the required documents for an incoming international freshman to be considered for admission to a US high school.

1) Transcripts

A transcript is an official copy of a student’s academic record detailing the courses the student has taken and each grade received. As an important document requested by US high schools in order to process applications, applicants must submit their transcripts in English. The prior school should send the original transcripts from the last three years of education in sealed envelopes. Most importantly, the transcripts should be officially stamped.

2) English Language Exams

As part of the application process, students must complete the appropriate required standardized test during the current academic year and prior to the stated application deadline. Most high schools will accept the Toefl, Itep or Duolingo exams. For instance, Woodstock Academy now accepts the Duolingo exam.

Schools that offer beginner level of ESL, such as Thornton Academy, will be willing to waive the English Language exam. These schools often times don’t require the exams because if the student doesn’t pass the English test, he will be able to take ESL classes. Therefore, during the admission process, schools that offer beginner level of ESL are willing to have the student take an internal test or have a Skype interview.

3) Bank Statement

A financial statement is an official document issued by a bank which proves there are sufficient funds in a bank account to pay for a school’s tuition expenses and all living costs. Therefore, the amount of money needed to be guaranteed on applicants’ financial statements has to cover the amount listed in the I-20.

4) Student Passport

A copy of the student’s passport is also part of the requisites when applying to US high schools.

5) Two references from high school teachers

As part of the application process, US High schools may request its applicants to submit letters of recommendation in English. It is recommended to submit letters from those who are familiar with the applicant. Letters should be between 1 to 2 pages in length. Most schools require letters from English and Math teachers.

Read our blog on how to ask your teacher for a letter of recommendation.

Check out the Top Ranked US Boarding Schools – requirements and deadlines

Philips Andover – Massachusetts (25 miles north from Boston)

Requirements: International students should submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS to provide the admission committee with more information about their English language proficiency. Additionally, Philips Andover requires the SSAT and ISEE exams.

The SSAT exam has 5 sections: Verbal, Quantitative, Reading, The Writing Sample and Experimental. Similarly,
the ISEE test consists of a verbal reasoning section with synonyms and sentence completion sections and two math sections. Additionally, this exam has a reading comprehension section. Like the SSAT, the test has an essay that asks students to respond to a prompt. Even though the essay isn’t scored, the school the student is applying to will have access to the essay.

Philips Exeter – New Hampshire

Requirements: For 9th and 10th grade applicants, Philips Exeter requires the SSAT or ISEE. The testing company should send the results directly to Exeter.

For 11th and 12th grade, Philips Exeter will accept the most recent test results for the SAT, ACT or PSAT.

Deerfield Academy – Massachusetts

Requirements: Candidates for grades 9 and 10 should take the SSAT. Deerfield Academy also accepts the ISEE. Candidates applying for grade 11 should take the ISEE, PLAN, PSAT, Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or the SSAT.

Candidates applying for grade 12 should take the ACT, PSAT or SAT. If English has not been the primary language of instruction for at least three years, the student is required to take the TOEFL in addition to the standardized test. A minimum of 105 is required for admission.

The deadline for all three schools is early January.

Cogito offers comprehensive preparation, application support and placement at top American boarding schools. We have years of experience in successfully placing international students at the most selective high schools. Additionally, we have tutors from Harvard and MIT who help international students over Skype with preparation for SSAT, SAT, Toefl and any English Language Exam.

]]>5 Things That Will Increase Your Chances of Getting Accepted to Harvardhttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/09/17/5-things-will-increase-chances-getting-accepted-harvard/
Mon, 17 Sep 2018 14:50:49 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3537With an acceptance rate of under 6%, great test scores are not enough to get you admitted to Harvard. There also seems to be no formula for acceptance. Each and every one of my classmates is very different. Some will take the most challenging courses in every field; others prefer to socialize. Some spend all […]

]]>With an acceptance rate of under 6%, great test scores are not enough to get you admitted to Harvard. There also seems to be no formula for acceptance. Each and every one of my classmates is very different. Some will take the most challenging courses in every field; others prefer to socialize. Some spend all their free time in the music studio; others choose to prepare for their careers in pre-professional clubs. I do find, however, one thing in common: Everyone has passion. Everyone wants to make their mark on the world (even if they don’t know what it will be yet!).

1. What’s your story?

Harvard has an application essay for a reason. The admissions office wants to see who you are, and what motivates you to be who you want to be. So before applying, try to find what matters a lot to you. What inspires you? Is it your family? Is it a hobby? (For me it was my town.) Then, figure out why it matters, and be specific. For example, what does your family do that makes you love them so much? Perhaps it’s the family dinner, when everyone somehow laughs at the same time, or when everyone quarrels, but it’s all in good fun. Then, how does this play into your goals for the future? If family is important to you, you might want to help orphans find homes someday or help people who work far away feel closer to their families. Look to share your inspiration.

2. Pick a few extracurriculars that you’re really passionate about and stick to them.

One way to show what you’re passionate about in high school is extracurricular activities. Statistically, according to the Harvard Crimson, community service, athletics, and music are most common (perhaps because many high schools have requirements in these areas). In terms of leadership, around 18 percent of students in the class of 2020 (the class I was admitted into) were student body president and 12 percent were newspaper editor-in-chiefs. But don’t join Student Council if you don’t enjoy policy-making, and don’t join the newspaper if you don’t like writing, because you’ll have to follow through. Most accepted students are leaders in a club or two, and few lead more than that. Choose something you like and move forward through the ranks, rather than joining a bunch of clubs noncommittally or doing something you don’t enjoy.

3. Be friendly.

Help others. Of course, as shown above, Harvard loves students who participate in community service activities, on the large scale through organizations like Salvation Army or UNICEF, and also in the local community like the soup kitchen, animal shelter, or senior center. However, it’s just as important to be friendly in daily life. Harvard also wants to know whether you’d be a good roommate, participate well in class discussions, and be able to work in a group. One can’t be the leader all the time. You can show this by developing habits like holding the door for others, offering help when you see someone carry something heavy, and generally agreeing to do favors for others.

4. Take advantage of opportunities around you.

Harvard wants to see that you are willing to learn and can push yourself in a college environment. Pursue what you might be interested in. Is there something you love to do that your school doesn’t offer? Start a club or look at community activities. Have you always wanted to learn something your school doesn’t teach? Try learning it yourself through books or the Internet. Do you have a class you really enjoy? Ask for extra assignments that will help you delve deeper. In college, no one is there to force knowledge or activities onto you, so admissions needs to make sure you can follow your interests on your own.

5. Be yourself!

I’ve hinted at this throughout the other tips, but it’s worth emphasizing. Don’t pretend to be a factory-made Harvard-bound student. That kind of person doesn’t exist, and admissions will know. Don’t be afraid to reveal your imperfections, your little fears, and your regrets, as long as you show how you’ve conquered the problems you’ve faced and how you keep trying to improve yourself. My classmates are all very different, but I know for sure they are all humans. We’ve all forgotten about assignments (then of course, hastily tried to make them up). We’ve all encountered challenges that seemed to have no end, but somehow, we got through them. Show Harvard, or any other school you apply to, that you can conquer difficulty. Staying true to yourself and what you love is the best way to impress the admissions officers.

]]>4 steps to write the perfect letter of recommendationhttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/09/13/letterofrecommendation/
Thu, 13 Sep 2018 16:16:37 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3533Writing a letter of recommendation for a teacher outside of the United States might be a little challenging. That is why we created a template with four points to include in a perfect recommendation letter. Teacher recommendation letters are a very important part of the college application in the United States. Therefore, a letter that […]

]]>Writing a letter of recommendation for a teacher outside of the United States might be a little challenging. That is why we created a template with four points to include in a perfect recommendation letter.

Teacher recommendation letters are a very important part of the college application in the United States. Therefore, a letter that highlights the student’s academic and personal strengths, can have a powerful effect on the student’s chances of admission.

American colleges are looking for letters that are personal and talk about students’ academic strengths. Most importantly, teachers should write about the student’s personality and qualities that he or she can bring to the classroom.

If there were any personal difficulties in the student’s life that affected the student’s grade, the teacher should write about them. For instance, the letter should address a parents’ divorce or a family lost.

Check out the four steps to take into consideration when writing a recommendation letter

STEP 1 – Introduction

You should introduce yourself, write the student’s name and credit yourself as to why you are qualified to write a letter of recommendation for the student. It is important to explain how you know the student and for how long you’ve known the student for.

Dear Admissions Committee,
I had the pleasure of teaching (student’s name) in his/her ____ grade (class name) class at (school’s name). I have known this student for ______ years and was delighted to serve as his/her teacher. From the first day of class, (student’s name) impressed me with his/her __________, and his/her passion for ___________________- both in and out of the classroom. (student’s name) is very talented and he/she has my highest recommendation as a student.

STEP 2 – Student’s strength in Academics

A good letter of recommendation shows the student’s strengths in academics. For example, it may include a story on how the student overcame a challenge in learning a difficult topic in your class. It can also include projects and any extracurricular activities, such as Olympiads or clubs.

STEP 3 – Anecdotes & Out of the classroom experiences

You should think about what specific anecdotes you can share to illustrate your assessment and help the student come alive in the eyes of the reader. For instance, some potential anecdotes include times when the student you’re writing the letter for showed exceptional intelligence, compassion, motivation, tenacity, leadership skills, and/or teamwork abilities.

Besides that, you should provide concrete examples of your interactions with the student inside or outside of the classroom. You could highlight the student’s character, academic abilities or qualities. The student should provide you with his thoughts on his goals and significant experiences that have shaped who he is today. The student’s insights can be very helpful but you ideally know the student well enough. You should trust yourself enough and write a letter of recommendation based on your familiarity with his academic work and personal life.

STEP 4 – Closure

This section of the letter of recommendation contains a brief summary of why are you are recommending the person.

I am certain that (student’s name) is going to continue to do great and creative things in his/her future. I highly recommend him/her for admission to your undergraduate program.
He/She is talented, caring, dedicated, and focused in his/her pursuits. (Student’s name)consistently seeks out constructive feedback so he/she can improve his/her (class subject) skills, which is a rare and impressive quality in a high school student. (student’s name) is truly a stand-out individual who will impress everyone he/she meets. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions at (teacher’s email).

Sincerely,
Ms______________
(Subject) Teacher
(High School name)

Check out our blog post on how to ask your teacher to write a letter of recommendation.

]]>MY FIRST DAYS AT SUNY PLATTSBURGH AS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENThttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/09/06/suny-plattsburgh-international-student/
Thu, 06 Sep 2018 16:28:24 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3519SUNY Plattsburg (see School) is ranked #2 out of over 3000 colleges and universities in USA by international student satisfaction. Bach Do, one of Cogito’s students from Vietnam, wrote a beautiful story about his first days on campus and how he made SUNY his home. International students are eligible for partial scholarships at this school! […]

First Words

Leaving friends and family and especially my dog was a painful experience. I am going to be a sophomore at SUNY Plattsburg in New York state. I write these words with hopes to share my experience with those who have the courage to leave behind their families and study abroad. Hopefully my story can be somewhat useful, or at least entertaining.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Plattsburgh

A few things you should keep in mind before departing for the US. First of all, if you are going to a place as cold as Plattsburgh in winter, unless you are traveling during winter, NEVER EVER buy winter clothes in Vietnam. There’s a ridiculous amount of fake clothes. A fake jacket will not be able to keep you warm in -30 degree Celsius and let’s not argue here. Second, if you can afford to buy a decent jacket in Vietnam you will be paying a higher price because it is definitely imported.

Traveling from Vietnam to America can be quite stressful and especially if you’re going by yourself. The most important thing to keep in mind is to relax, wear comfortable clothes for the flight… Take it easy, the officers at the airport will not bite you, if you are not doing anything illegal then their strictness should make you feel safe.

At the airport, students should be a priority, if you are in a hurry to catch a plane but you have to wait at customs with travelers, refugees, etc. Just ask for an officer and explain your situation, you should have every right for them to let you “cut the line”. Because I was too nervous to approach them, I missed a flight to my school on the first day. Luckily, the airline gave me another ticket for free, but I did have to wait 11 hours at the airport, and spent 150$ later to hire a motel room at 3 A.M.. So to avoid these potential pains, speak.

Orientation Week

After that unpleasant trip of mine, Janelle, a student, picked me up from the airport in the morning. “Oh Lord, I’m safe now!” was the first thought in my mind, really. Orientation week was one of the most wonderful times I had in Plattsburgh. The upper-class men would help me as much as they could. Even though I did feel homesick and cried when I heard my little dog Nuna would not eat because she missed me. Yet, when I’m with my campus friends they make me feel like I’m home. The whole Orientation Team made me feel welcomed here at the big SUNY Plattsburgh family!

My academic life at SUNY Plattsburgh

In my first year, I’ve got a perfect GPA of 4.0. I held a position as CA (Community Advocate), and I am a voting member of two organizations COAB (Clubs and Organizations Affairs Board) and CAS (College Auxiliary Services). During the first semester I did something against everyone advise – I registered for the maximum amount of credit a freshman could take – 18 credits. I was quite nervous at first, because I was the only person among my friends that did it. Still to me that was nothing compared to the time when I was a senior in high school in Vietnam. I believe university is the most important and efficient time to gain knowledge, and pushing your limits is a good thing. I do not recommend anyone to register for 18 credits, or to force yourself to live under pressure. Yet you will not know how far you can go unless you push yourself forward.

In my experience, the most important thing to keep in mind in college is your self-awareness. The teachers will not beg you to do the homework, read books or prepare for classes, etc. Whether you want to improve or not is up to you. One of the good ways to study is to ask questions. It is good if you can solve problems in your study group and believe me teamwork in college is extremely important. But if your team cannot come up with an answer, feel free to approach your professor. Personally, I prefer speaking with them in person. Every professor has office hours so students can meet up with him. I cannot demonstrate enough the importance of speaking directly to your professor. The reason that I got one of the only “A”s in my ENG101 class is that I consulted my writing with professor Aberle. He gladly reads every essay and helps me to improve it. Sadly, very few students approach him with their essays…

The fact that the professors are extremely nice here at SUNY Plattsburgh makes me so happy and motivates me. I am happy to the point that I would feel like they are my parents. And of course, every child is motivated to make their parents happy!

Anyway, reviewing and reviewing during the semester will save your life during finals week, and I really mean it. Admit it, no one wants to stick a 700 pages book in their heads in just one night… If you review your matters every weekend, it will help the knowledge to solidify and save your life. After all, studying is a process, not just a… night.

There’s a thing that I will just bring up, but I do not recommend any of you to try. If you are studying for an important test the day after and you feel really sleepy, the best way to fix it is to study until you don’t feel sleepy anymore.

Activities at SUNY Plattsburgh

It is true that studying is one of the main tasks in college, but to think that it is the only task is a severe mistake. In a resume, the GPA only deserves a single line, you will undoubtedly have to write something other than the GPA to fill the rest of the page. Those things must be the activities to prove how involved you were in your campus life.

That doesn’t mean that you have to force yourself to get involved with the things you don’t like. I will bet anything that nobody in this world only likes to study, you will definitely like something else. No matter what it is, you should be able to find someone with similar interests in college. Get together, start something with them, everything will be meaningful to make it, join a club, or start a club, organize activities together and before you realize, you have already been involved.

Every single person I meet in college says that networking is one of the most important things. You don’t have to be really good at communicating, but you do need to communicate to form good relationships so that you can help people when needed and vice versa.

Let’s take a small personal example. I have a hobby of playing piano, but I just couldn’t find a piano to play at first. Thanks to a friend, now I have access to Myers Fine Arts and I can play piano. I even had a chance to meet with Dr. Becker, who graduated from Julliard, and then to declare a Minor in Music.

SUNY Plattsburgh to me

I was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, the Big Apple of my country, so my first thought when I was looking for a university is to find someplace peaceful, a place that escapes from the race.

I also specifically like the Northeast part of the US. The wonderful weather with the romantic autumn, and the snowy winter. SUNY Plattsburgh is like a dream coming true to me.

If you are a person that loves autumn, have a dream of seeing snow for the first time, and look for a friendly environment like me, I strongly recommend giving SUNY Plattsburgh a try.

]]>Teacher Recommendation Lettershttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/09/06/teacher-recommendation-letters/
Thu, 06 Sep 2018 13:13:01 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3512Why teacher recommendation letters are extremely important and how to ask for them. Advice for international students. Succesful teacher recommendation letters talk about you and your personality on multiple levels. They give the admission committee a chance to see you through someone else’s eyes. Your teacher can provide valuable information on your academic performance and give insights […]

]]>Why teacher recommendation letters are extremely important and how to ask for them. Advice for international students.

Succesful teacher recommendation letters talk about you and your personality on multiple levels. They give the admission committee a chance to see you through someone else’s eyes. Your teacher can provide valuable information on your academic performance and give insights on what type of person you are and what qualities you will bring to the campus.

GREAT REFERENCES ARE PERSONAL AND COMMUNICATE MANY ASPECTS OF YOUR PERSONALITY, NOT JUST ACADEMICS!

Great teacher recommendation letters talk about you as a:

student who shows enthusiasm about learning that can inspire others, for example by participating in extra assignments, olympiads, clubs, or even helping as a teacher assistant.

friend, happy to share your knowledge and help other students in the classroom.

person. How do you approach challenges? Do you ask questions and seek help? Are you persistent? What do you bring to classroom? Maybe it is a sense of humor, maybe kindness and maturity? A great reference letter usually has an anecdote or talks about a specific classroom situation that illustrates a unique part of your personality.

If during the school year you went through some personal life challenges (parents’ divorce, health issues) that affected your grades, your teacher or counselor can explain those circumstances in the letter.

Who should you ask for teacher recommendation letters?

Most colleges require two teachers recommendation letters and one from a college counselor. International students often don’t have a college counselor. In this case, they can ask a mentor, coach, or even a very close friend.

Ana from Harvard University asked her friend to write a reference because the friend wrote well, was responsible, and knew her particular personal challenges. She submitted her friend’s letter along with two teacher recommendation letters.

Ideally, the teacher writing your recommendation letter has a long and meaningful personal connection with you and appreciates your work ethic and personality!

CHOOSE TEACHERS THAT KNOW YOU VERY WELL, THOSE WITH WHOM YOU HAVE A PERSONAL CONNECTION.

Avoid choosing teachers just because they graduated from Ivy League universities. Remember that their credentials do not transfer to you.

Teacher recommendation letters are part of the story that you are telling through the entire application. If you are a scientist, for example, and applying for an engineering school, make sure that at least one recommendation letter comes from a science or math teacher.

How to approach your teacher

Teachers in American schools write hundreds of recommendations and know how to write them. Teachers from another countries may appreciate some guidance. You can bring them our Guide to Writing Teacher Reference Letters.

Try to approach your teacher in person. Thank them for all the help they have given you and say that you would be honored if thet would be willing to write you a recommendation letter. Tell them what schools you are applying to and mention a few points on why you are specifically asking them for the letter. For example:

Mr. Smith, I really enjoyed your class and felt honored when you selected me to join the computer science club. Would you be willing to write a recommendation letter on my behalf for my college applications?

Next, you should follow up with email listening deadlines and further instructions.

Make sure that you give your teacher enough time – at least one month – to write your recommendation letter.

Example of a Recommendation Letter Request:

Dr./Mrs./Mr. (teachers name)

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and helping me succeed in your class, and thank you for participating in my college search by writing a recommendation letter on my behalf.

Your class is one of the reasons that I’m interested in studying (subject). I hope your letter can help my future college see that I’m a good fit for their program. The final day for submitting the recommendation letter is (final date).

You can submit the recommendation through this link (insert link).

Thank you very much!

Signature

________________________________

Interested in learning about other parts of common application? Check our blog on how to master common application.

]]>7 Tips for SAT/ACT Test Day Successhttp://cogitoworldeducation.org/2018/08/22/9-tips-excel-sat-act-test-day/
Wed, 22 Aug 2018 15:30:37 +0000http://cogitoworldeducation.org/?p=3502The school year is just around the corner and for Seniors, that means college applications. Many of you have begun researching schools, drafting your essays, asking for recommendations, and starting your CommonApp. While most have already taken the SAT/ACT test, it isn’t too late to improve your score. Those few extra points can be the […]

]]>The school year is just around the corner and for Seniors, that means college applications. Many of you have begun researching schools, drafting your essays, asking for recommendations, and starting your CommonApp. While most have already taken the SAT/ACT test, it isn’t too late to improve your score. Those few extra points can be the difference between a scholarship and no aid, or even acceptance vs. rejection. This Fall will be your last chance to improve your scores, so make sure you signup today.

7 Tips for SAT/ACT Test Day Success:

1. Come Prepared: Take as many practice tests as possible. This will familiarize you with the test format, increasing your speed and eliminating the bad habits that lead to careless errors. Here is where you can practice for SAT test (link to Khan Academy).

2. Come Equipped: Bring two sharpened pencils with good erasers. Bring a sharpener. Struggling with broken pencil increases stress and can lead to unnecessary frustration.

3. Sleep, Eat, and Relieve yourself Get a good night’s sleep before the test- don’t try to cram the night before. Eat a good breakfast. High-protein foods like eggs are proven to increase concentration and energy. Avoid sugary food. Visit the bathroom 15-30 minutes before the test. Try not to over-drink during the test. There will be opportunities to use the restroom, but you don’t want to go during test time.

4. Remain Calm: If you start getting anxious, take deep breaths. Don’t worry about other people finishing early. Smart people know to use all available time to double-check their work.

5. Pace yourself. Before the test, calculate the amount of time you have to answer each question. If you get stuck on a question for too long, skip it and return to it once you have finished others. Sometimes fresh eyes are all that’s needed. Quickly flip through the section before beginning and try to predict if you will need extra time for certain questions that involve a reading or word problem.

6. Read Questions in Full before Answering: Some of the answer choices will be designed to trap students who don’t read the question fully. Identify the answer (or a ballpark answer) before looking at the answer choices. This practice will help you eliminate misleading answer choices. Eliminating a few wrong answers can increase the chances of a random guess being correct. There is no penalty for wrong answer so be sure to answer all the questions!

7. Consider All Answer Choices: If you believe that many of the answer offered may be correct, look for an “all the above” answer at the end.